View Full Version : Ears - they're all you've got.
The Grand Wazoo
01-06-2011, 09:21
Unless, like this guy you have an extra one installed, you've only got two ears.
http://www.tagbanger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ear-on-his-arm.jpg
Please look after them!
I've got an infection in my right ear at the moment. It's absolute agony and I'm on 5 different types of medication to try to get the thing under control.
From the point of view of hi-fi & music, it means that I've got an opportunity to listen to loads of early blues recordings because I can't hear a bloody thing in stereo!!
When something like this happens, it makes you realise just how much you depend on the things you take for granted.
Take care of yourselves, eh?
Neil McCauley
01-06-2011, 09:23
Unless, like this guy you have an extra one installed, you've only got two ears.
http://www.tagbanger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ear-on-his-arm.jpg
Please look after them!
I've got an infection in my right ear at the moment. It's absolute agony and I'm on 5 different types of medication to try to get the thing under control.
From the point of view of hi-fi & music, it means that I've got an opportunity to listen to loads of early blues recordings because I can't hear a bloody thing in stereo!!
When something like this happens, it makes you realise just how much you depend on the things you take for granted.
Take care of yourselves, eh?
Well said that man! This gets my vote for the best post of 2011 and makes all the stuff I've been banging on about here seem very trivial indeed in comparison. Get well soon! And thank you for getting me a bit more grounded!
The Grand Wazoo
01-06-2011, 09:26
Get well soon!
Thanks Howard
Unless, like this guy you have an extra one installed, you've only got two ears.
Please look after them!
I've got an infection in my right ear at the moment. It's absolute agony and I'm on 5 different types of medication to try to get the thing under control.
From the point of view of hi-fi & music, it means that I've got an opportunity to listen to loads of early blues recordings because I can't hear a bloody thing in stereo!!
When something like this happens, it makes you realise just how much you depend on the things you take for granted.
Take care of yourselves, eh?
What antibiotics are you on? I had a similar infection a few years ago, tooth abscess, ear infection, and neuralgia...horrific pain, nothing like it :doh:
I initially had amoxylin, which did nothing to shift it, I'm struggling to remember the name of the second antibiotic I was given, but they were horrible to take, making one feel nausious, and very unpleasant with alcohol...but they worked, Metronidazole perhaps, or am I confused, I'll ask the missus as she's a doctor ;)
The Grand Wazoo
01-06-2011, 10:01
They gave me Flucloxacillin, but I was given a couple of anti-inflammatories too. I had to go to the hospital last night to bang my fist on the table for some proper pain killers.
I've never had pain like this before - it's quite extraordinary & much, much worse than when I broke my elbow, for example.
Hope you mend soon Chris, as a Scuba diver I know all about the importance of ears and how they should be looked after. Do you have any idea of how you got it?
The Grand Wazoo
01-06-2011, 10:10
I was trying to have a wax rake-out with some Otex drops & I appear to have had a bad reaction to them. I'm very glad that I only did one side as I can't imagine what sort of a state I'd be in if this were in both lug 'oles.
They gave me Flucloxacillin, but I was given a couple of anti-inflammatories too. I had to go to the hospital last night to bang my fist on the table for some proper pain killers.
I've never had pain like this before - it's quite extraordinary & much, much worse than when I broke my elbow, for example.
Actually that rings a bell...hopefully that should clear it up, if it's the ones I had they can give you motion sickness, I actually threw up on myself whilst driving...too much information ;)
As for pain killers that's shocking, current NHS thinking is that patients should always be as pain free as possible, get onto your doctor ASAP and get him to prescribe something for you...you were probably attended to by some junior doctor at A&E, who didn't have enough authority.
When the infection gets into the nerve it's excruciating, like a slow drill going into your brain on hammer action.
You need something morphine based, Zydol, Codeine, Diclofenic etc. with paracetamol in combination. Anti-inflamatories are a waste of time...
The Grand Wazoo
01-06-2011, 10:29
Actually, I got the pain killers that I asked for at the hospital, but I wish the GP had prescribed me some yesterday morning.
They have codeine but still not properly doing the job. There's a period when they work just fine, but it wears off after a couple of hours. 4 o'clock this morning was absolute hell!
Actually, I got the pain killers that I asked for at the hospital, but I wish the GP had prescribed me some yesterday morning.
They have codeine but still not properly doing the job. There's a period when they work just fine, but it wears off after a couple of hours. 4 o'clock this morning was absolute hell!
Take paracetamol too ( 2 * 500mg per day max), they're safe in combination...
Watch out for the side effects of codeine...err you might not be as regular as you're used to, if you know what I mean ;)
I hope you don't mind me posting this Chris, as it's not meant other than advice for others as I am sure your OP was. I had grave concerns about a previous posting on AoS ( http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10496&highlight=hopi ) for home brew methods of cleaning out ear wax and recommendations for Hopi ear candles amongst other things. I was stupid enough to try this once, but it happened before I realised what was fully going on. It did clean out some wax, but I would never do it again.
Ears are very delicate instruments and really shouldn't be messed with at all if you can avoid it. A close friend of mine used to clean her ears out after a shower with cotton ear buds and was quite disgusted by the brown wax, so kept on until nothing was there. She got an ear infection as a direct result and went through what you are now Chris, a very painful experience indeed. Her ear was perforated by the infection and she can no longer scuba dive and has to be very careful with her ears. Very sad indeed, as it was her life and something she was extremely passionate about - she quite happily says she would have rather lost a limb!
Ear wax is there for a purpose, to protect your inner ear canal from drying and cracking. It also keeps your ear canal clean, lubricated and helps repel dirt and water.
Without earwax, the skin inside your inner ear canal can become dry, cracked, infected, or waterlogged and sore. There are ways to help this, but I'm not going to offer advice here as I'm not qualified. If you do suffer from a build up of wax you should seek professional medical advice and not internet forums IMO.
I stand by previous posts, you shouldn't put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow!
This hobby of ours cannot be enjoyed if you have problems with your ears, look after them guys ;)
:cool:
I hope you don't mind me posting this Chris, as it's not meant other than advice for others as I am sure your OP was. I had grave concerns about a previous posting on AoS ( http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=10496&highlight=hopi ) for home brew methods of cleaning out ear wax and recommendations for Hopi ear candles amongst other things. I was stupid enough to try this once, but it happened before I realised what was fully going on. It did clean out some wax, but I would never do it again.
Ears are very delicate instruments and really shouldn't be messed with at all if you can avoid it. A close friend of mine used to clean her ears out after a shower with cotton ear buds and was quite disgusted by the brown wax, so kept on until nothing was there. She got an ear infection as a direct result and went through what you are now Chris, a very painful experience indeed. Her ear was perforated by the infection and she can no longer scuba dive and has to be very careful with her ears. Very sad indeed, as it was her life and something she was extremely passionate about - she quite happily says she would have rather lost a limb!
Ear wax is there for a purpose, to protect your inner ear canal from drying and cracking. It also keeps your ear canal clean, lubricated and helps repel dirt and water.
Without earwax, the skin inside your inner ear canal can become dry, cracked, infected, or waterlogged and sore. There are ways to help this, but I'm not going to offer advice here as I'm not qualified. If you do suffer from a build up of wax you should seek professional medical advice and not internet forums IMO.
I stand by previous posts, you shouldn't put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow!
This hobby of ours cannot be enjoyed if you have problems with you ears, look after them guys ;)
:cool:
+1
Several million years of natural selection can't be wrong...well apart from pattern baldness, male nipples, moobs, ageing....etc. ;)
They gave me Flucloxacillin, but I was given a couple of anti-inflammatories too. I had to go to the hospital last night to bang my fist on the table for some proper pain killers.
I've never had pain like this before - it's quite extraordinary & much, much worse than when I broke my elbow, for example.
I know where you are with this and feel for you, having gone deaf twice with such intense painful infections. Another less painful one on the outer ear canal alerted an experienced doctor to suspect Diabetes due to other related issues - darned glad she was so observant....
Only just picked up this thread Chris. I do hope things improve for you very soon.
I can't imagine what you are going through as I think I've only had ear ache twice in my life.
Regarding ear cleaning, unless you suffer from excessive build up of ear wax and have it removed professionally by either a doctor or a practice nurse, leave well alone. As Tim has said, ear wax is there for a reason.
I don't even use cotton buds. The smallest thing I use to clean my ears whilst in the shower are my little fingers; you can't push them in too far.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Regards
Reid Malenfant
01-06-2011, 17:38
I also hope things improve quicktime for you Chris :)
I'm one of these bods that overproduces earwax & need to get them cleaned out about every couple of years. While i do tend to agree with what you said about getting it professionally done Barry, i actually do it myself nowadays.
The reason is because the last time i had it done the nurse use one of these new fangled machines that pulses the water rather than a syringe :rolleyes:
She was so apologetic for making both of my ears bleed :eek:
Now i do it myself & have done so on numerous occasions, after all, i can feel if it's hurting & do something about that :eyebrows:
Get well soon Chris, stereo will sound superb again!
BTH K10A
01-06-2011, 18:46
They gave me Flucloxacillin, but I was given a couple of anti-inflammatories too. I had to go to the hospital last night to bang my fist on the table for some proper pain killers.
I've never had pain like this before - it's quite extraordinary & much, much worse than when I broke my elbow, for example.
You have to be careful with some antibiotics with regards to the side effects. some can cause tinitus. Doxycycline which is often precribed for skin rashes is one of them.
Welcome back, mate! :)
Chris, hope you get better soon. That's a nasty thing to have....
Marco.
My sympathy, Chris. Of all the things that might happen to me I am most terrified of losing my hearing. Here's hoping for a quick and full recovery.
Sorry to read this Chris, hope you're soon better matey. :(
Pete The Cat
01-06-2011, 20:46
Unless, like this guy you have an extra one installed, you've only got two ears.
http://www.tagbanger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ear-on-his-arm.jpg
Please look after them!
I've got an infection in my right ear at the moment. It's absolute agony and I'm on 5 different types of medication to try to get the thing under control.
From the point of view of hi-fi & music, it means that I've got an opportunity to listen to loads of early blues recordings because I can't hear a bloody thing in stereo!!
When something like this happens, it makes you realise just how much you depend on the things you take for granted.
Take care of yourselves, eh?
Culturally we under-rate hearing problems, compared to say loss of sight, and there's a relative lack of sensitivity towards those suffering from them. I guess it may be down to the fact that hearing damage has always been quite common and is also the price of society's progress, whether working in the industrial revolution or firing the artillery, but I digress.
This is The Grand Wazoo's thread so the following is just my credentials in offering advice below and not woe-is-me. I've learned a lot about how precious and clever hearing is from specialists due to a few seemingly minor problems since birth, culminating in hyperacusis (aka threshold shift) and serious tinnitus last year. When every day is like having a hangover (that's "H", sounds that are normal to most people become irritating or painful) and the fire alarm keeps you awake at night (that's "T") you realise just what you were taking for granted. I have white noise generators fitted upwards of 6 hours a day which are gradually reacclimatising my ears to "normal" and about 2 days in 10 can now listen to music again at low volume without it feeling scratchy and bright. At its worst I had to ask my family to whisper and turning a light switch on was like scraping my eardrums with rough metal.
When hearing difficulties come up on hi-fi forums there are three points I feel an urge to make ;
1) We all hear differently anyway due to colds, tiredness, our respective sinus shapes etc. So many discussions miss this point.
2) If someone has a problem they should seek specialist advice and not go poking around with off-the-shelf remedies, hearing is precious.
3) There's no need to go to a rock gig without earplugs - you'll hear it almost as well with them in due to bone conduction and it's just not worth the consequences.
Grand Wazoo - if you're awake with this at 4am tonight then chances are I'm there with you ! Follow the specialists and don't be tempted to try a short cut. You've every right to assume it's an infection and infections can mostly be cleared with the right treatment. For pain you may want to avoid aspirin since that has been associated with tinnitus. I wish you a speedy recovery !
Pete
Chris, you may want to consider meditation as a healing aid. Seriously.
The body is a biochemical machine; certain input produces certain output. In this case, the input is your mental state (hate, boredom, peace, joy etc.), and the output is the chemicals/endorphines/hormones released into the blood.
Specific states of mind produce specific chemicals. These chemicals, in turn, regulate the correct functioning of the body. Stress for example, is the biggest killer, because that specific emotional state produces specific chemicals that are detrimental to the body, especially when over prolonged periods.
Peace, on the other hand, has been scientifically proven (using brain scan activities during challenging tasks and neurological/chemical studies) to release chemicals that are beneficial to the body.
When a mind is at dis-ease, the body is unable to function to its full capacity to heal. This capacity to heal is the same innate (and incredible) intelligence that constructs and maintains your body on a daily/millisecond basis.
When a mind is at ease, the body receives chemicals which promote healing.
Ever noticed why negative people are always under the weather, or suffering with something? This is why - it's a vicious cycle. One must change their thoughts before they can change their circumstances, not visa-versa.
Every morning and night, for 15 minutes, just sit. Spend 5 minutes being thankful for all of the things in your life. There is much to be thankful about. Then follow your breathing, naturally, without effort. Let the thoughts come and go. This will put your mind (and hence your neurological/chemical balance) in to a very powerful state.
Not only will your cells be provided with the correct chemicals/proteins in which to aid reconstruction (i.e. healing), but your mental state will benefit. You'll feel better. Try and keep this during the day, and you'll find that your self healing will speed up dramatically.
Edit: your diet is also very important. The body can only use what it's given. Feed it crap, and it has crap to use. Feed it great stuff (fresh fruit and veg), and is has great stuff to maintain itself with. Quite simple, but unfortunately far too often ignored.
Neil McCauley
05-06-2011, 19:18
Chris, you may want to consider meditation as a healing aid. Seriously.
The body is a biochemical machine; certain input produces certain output. In this case, the input is your mental state (hate, boredom, peace, joy etc.), and the output is the chemicals/endorphines/hormones released into the blood.
Specific states of mind produce specific chemicals. These chemicals, in turn, regulate the correct functioning of the body. Stress for example, is the biggest killer, because that specific emotional state produces specific chemicals that are detrimental to the body, especially when over prolonged periods.
Peace, on the other hand, has been scientifically proven (using brain scan activities during challenging tasks and neurological/chemical studies) to release chemicals that are beneficial to the body.
When a mind is at dis-ease, the body is unable to function to its full capacity to heal. This capacity to heal is the same innate (and incredible) intelligence that constructs and maintains your body on a daily/millisecond basis.
When a mind is at ease, the body receives chemicals which promote healing.
Ever noticed why negative people are always under the weather, or suffering with something? This is why - it's a vicious cycle. One must change their thoughts before they can change their circumstances, not visa-versa.
Every morning and night, for 15 minutes, just sit. Spend 5 minutes being thankful for all of the things in your life. There is much to be thankful about. Then follow your breathing, naturally, without effort. Let the thoughts come and go. This will put your mind (and hence your neurological/chemical balance) in to a very powerful state.
Not only will your cells be provided with the correct chemicals/proteins in which to aid reconstruction (i.e. healing), but your mental state will benefit. You'll feel better. Try and keep this during the day, and you'll find that your self healing will speed up dramatically.
Edit: your diet is also very important. The body can only use what it's given. Feed it crap, and it has crap to use. Feed it great stuff (fresh fruit and veg), and is has great stuff to maintain itself with. Quite simple, but unfortunately far too often ignored.
+1, and then some.
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